Providence Missionary Baptist Church
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Providence M.B. Church
8401 S. Ashland Avenue | Chicago, IL 60620
Mission | "A Christ-Centered Church, Where Unity and the Love of Christ Abide" |
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Goal | "Meeting the Needs of People" |
Theme | "Becoming Alive in 2005" |
Established | 1925 |
Convention Affiliation | National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. |
Educational Affiliates | Sunday School Publishing Board, Baptist General State of Illinois Congress of Christian Education, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education |
Pastor | Rev. Dr. William H. Foster, Jr. |
Location | Chicago, Ill., USA |
Membership | 2,000+ |
Homepage | [ http://www.providencechicago.org] |
Providence Missionary Baptist Church, also known as Providence or PMBC is a Baptist church in Chicago, Illinois. It was organized on April 11, 1925 by its late pastor and founder: Reverend Nasceas C. Lunford. After several years of God-driven progression of his ministry, God saw fit for him to pass the baton on to Reverend William F. Fristoe, the second shepherd of the great church, to continue the race. Having continued the journey for 27 years, he made the decision to retire. The membership then appointed its present leader, Reverend Dr. William H. Foster, Jr., as his successor.
Providence is “A Christ-Centered Church, Where Unity and the Love of Christ Abide®.” After 78 years of service on the south side of Chicago, it remains established on the sure foundation—Jesus Christ. Under the pastorship of Rev. Dr. William H. Foster Jr., it is committed to “meeting the needs of people.” As Pastor Foster attests, “[they] have and are achieving great milestones in building God’s Kingdom.”
At Providence the church strives to become a ministry of excellence under the aid of a “mighty God whose name is excellent in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1). In this endeavor, Providence strives to walk by faith and not by sight, believing that God has plans to prosper them far beyond what they have heard, seen, or conceived.
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[edit] Church history
On April 11, 1925, Reverend Nasceas Lunford, the late founder and pastor, organized Providence Missionary Baptist Church in his home at 3016 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL. The presiding ministers were Reverend Lunford and the late Reverend T.E. Brown of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church. There were five chartered members: Sisters Ella Lunford, Georgia Johnson, Estelle Carpenter and Rosie Johnson; and Brother Andrew Johnson. The first service was conducted at 2717 South State Street on Easter Sunday morning in 1925. The late Reverend J.L. Townsend preached the first sermon.
The church purchased a small house at 3227 South Prairie in November 1925 to be converted into a lovely sanctuary for worship. Pastor Lunford and a faithful, determined membership labored to improve that property. Espousing their dedication, Pastor Lunford served eight years without a salary.
In May 1948, the church was destroyed by fire. Services were thus conducted in the gymnasium of Hartzell Methodist Church at 3000 South Prairie Avenue. Providence continued services there until the church building was rebuilt in September 1957. After 32 years in a single location, Providence relocated to 858 West 62nd Street. The church remained there for ten years. On April 7, 1968, Providence moved to its present location: 8401 South Ashland Avenue.
On June 16, 1972, Pastor Lunford died. Toward the end of his ministry, Pastor Lunford appointed Reverend William Franklin Fristoe as pastor of the Providence M.B. Church to continue God’s work. On December 30, 1972, the Providence membership elected Reverend William F. Fristoe as its second pastor.
The church grew to over 2000 members. The Christian Education Department, Missionary Department, Evangelistic Outreach, Bible classes, prayer services, social services, auxiliaries, membership, and church personnel continued to grow and expand.
On September 26, 1976, the final mortgage on the church was paid. On June 1, 1980, the church purchased property at 8445 South Ashland Avenue, and on March 23, 1990, the congregation walked to the newly renovated Providence Annex for its official opening. Pastor Fristoe’s dream had been realized and manifested on 84th Street. The Christian Education Department and Sunday School now enjoyed spacious rooms for their various classes. The beautiful banquet facility is frequently booked by those inside and outside of the community.
Reverend William F. Fristoe announced his retirement as Pastor of Providence after 27 years of service. Today he continues to serve under the pastorship of Reverend Dr. William H. Foster, Jr.
The third and newly elected pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church is the Reverend Dr. William H. Foster, Jr., installed on February 27, 2000. Pastor Foster continues the vision of this church with a variety of innovative ministries directed at meeting the needs of the people.
Pastor Foster continues to move the church forward. Tithes, offerings, and the membership have increased. He has organized the Providence Divorce Care, Community Development Corporation, Nutrition & Fitness, Pastor’s Assistance, Singles, and Grief ministries, and reestablished the Women's Fellowship, Youth Mentor, Praise Team, and Biblical Counseling ministries. Pastor has appointed new deacons, a new Superintendent of Sunday School, and a Director of Christian Education.
Providence remains actively involved with District, State, and National affiliates. Pastor Foster strives to move his sheep to a higher level of Christian education. The church's educational activities continue to be certified by its educational affiliates: the Sunday School Publishing Board, Baptist General State of Illinois Congress of Christian Education, and the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.
A debt free church was one of Pastor Foster's visions. This vision was fulfilled on Friday, February 23, 2001, when the mortgage on the Providence Annex was paid in full. The celebration took place on February 25, 2001, with a mortgage burning ceremony and dinner. The baptistery was refurbished and several properties have been purchased in light of Pastor’s vision for expansion.
As the Pastor stands with the membership on the foundation, which is Christ; is committed to meeting the needs of people; endorses the theme: “A Christ-Centered Church, Where Unity and the Love of Christ Abide;” and preaches and teaches the Word of God; Providence is blessed.
[edit] Pastor's biography
Reverend Dr. William H. Foster, Jr. became the pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church on January 1, 2000. He was installed as the third pastor, preacher, and leader of Providence on February 27, 2000. This chosen man of God shares his life with his lovely wife, Barbara, and three wonderful children: Andrea, Chad, and Maxwell. Dr. Foster received his Bachelor of Science in business from Montana State University and his MBA from the University of Chicago. He also earned a Master of Arts in religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois and his doctorate in ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Formerly drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1980, having played for the Montana Golden Nuggets in the CBA, and inducted into the Montana State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Pastor Foster is a well-rounded individual. He is also president/CEO of Amazin' Grace Ministries, and was featured in several publications. Most notably, in Dollars & Sense magazine, he was selected as one of African-America's best and brightest males, and in Crain's Chicago Business Magazine, he was cited as one of Chicago’s top small businessmen. Dr. Foster is also the recipient of the Midwest Community Council's Distinguished City of Chicago Award for outstanding service.
Underscoring Hosea 4:6: “My people perish for lack of knowledge,” Dr. Foster's principal commitment is to Christian education. His goal and evangelistic thrust is to meet the needs of people while winning souls for Christ. He has continued to move Providence forward. Under the divine leadership of God, he has implemented several new ministries and capital improvements.
[edit] Church mission
The mission of the church is "A Christ-Centered Church, Where Unity and the Love of Christ Abide®." Providence operates with Christ at its center. As a Christ-centered body focusing intently on Christ, every word, deed, thought, and belief stems from the person, power, character, and ministry of Jesus. It is by his love, by his strength, by his nature, and by his resolve that Providence accomplishes its goal of meeting the needs of people. As a unified body committed to portraying the unconditional, sacrificial love of Christ, they strive to exalt the Savior, edify believers, and evangelize the lost.
[edit] Church goal
At Providence, the principal objective is winning souls for Christ, while "meeting the needs of people." As a unified body in Christ, they have developed an intense yearning and a deep, sincere passion for ministering to the needs of people. As Christ humbled himself to accommodate the needs of others, Providence seeks to draw upon that same love and power to satisfy the holistic needs of the individual—physical, mental, emotional, and most of all, spiritual.
[edit] Church Vision
[edit] List of Ministries
Christian Education: Bible Study, New Members Class, Nurture for Baptist Churches, Sunday School
Community Development: Evangelism & Outreach, Employment Resource Ministry, Information Technology Ministry, Prison Ministry, Social Services Ministry, Transitional Housing Ministry
Leadership: Associate Ministers, Deaconesses Ministry, Deacons Ministry, Finance Ministry, Ministers' Wives, Trustees Ministry
Mission: Dorcas Circle, Ella Lunford Ministry, Evangelistic Outreach, Golden Agers, Mothers Board, Sisters of Love, Unity Circle, Willing Workers Ministry
Music: Children's Choir, Male Chorus, Outreach Chorale, Praise Team, Sanctuary Choir
Spiritual Development: Biblical Counseling Ministry, Crisis Intervention, Grief Ministry, Marriage Ministry, Men's/Laymen Fellowship, Women's Fellowship Ministry
Youth: Children's Choir, Drill Team Ministry, Junior Church, Junior Ushers Ministry, Praise Dance Ministry, Tutorial Ministry, Youth Evangelistic Services, Youth Ministry
Other: Higher Education Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Legal Assistance Ministry, Marketing Ministry, Media Ministry, Nurses Ministry, Nutrition & Fitness Ministry, Singles' Ministry, PMBC Development Corporation, Ushers Ministry
[edit] External links
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